Jose Fanoro's 21-Yard Field Goal Lifts Miami Misfits Past New York Legion
Riley Kade — JRSports One
Jose Fanoro's 21-yard field goal at 4:14 of overtime gave the Miami Misfits a 42-39 win over the New York Legion. The kick broke a 39-39 tie and capped a game that had four lead changes.
Miami trailed by nine in the first quarter and by eight late in the fourth. It tied the score at 39-39 on a five-yard touchdown pass from Hunter Cid to Mason Kuswell at 1:21 of the fourth quarter, followed by a successful two-point conversion. New York had taken a 39-31 lead on a 31-yard field goal by Luke Shinnworth at 3:18.
Cid opened the scoring with a nine-yard touchdown pass to Henry Lut at 10:29 of the first quarter. Miguel Dusuez answered with a two-yard touchdown pass to Henry Groortson. At 5:35, Gavin Shenn sacked Cid for a loss of nine yards, a safety that put New York ahead 9-7. Dusuez threw another two-yard touchdown pass to Groortson at 0:48, and the Legion led 16-7 after one quarter.
Ignacio Chenero's five-yard run at 12:46 cut the margin to 16-14. Dusuez found Fernando Tiendena for a 22-yard touchdown at 9:56, and Chenero's four-yard run at 1:14 sent the teams to halftime with New York ahead 23-21. Cid's three-yard touchdown pass to Tyler Hairt at 10:13 of the third quarter gave Miami a 28-23 lead. Yuki Yao intercepted Dusuez at 14:12, but Miami did not score on that possession. Dusuez then hit Ford Hend for a 21-yard touchdown at 5:50 to put New York back in front, 29-28. Hend's three-yard run at 12:38 of the fourth quarter made it 36-28.
Josh Growser intercepted Dusuez at 0:14 of the fourth quarter, and the game was tied 39-39 when regulation ended. In overtime, Tomas Las lost a fumble that Josh Joostson recovered at 7:59. Fanoro's 21-yard field goal at 4:14 then gave Miami the win.
Cid completed 30 of 39 passes for 335 yards with three touchdowns and no interceptions. Dusuez went 28 of 37 for 278 yards with four touchdowns and two interceptions. Hend ran for 111 yards and a touchdown and added a receiving touchdown. Chenero rushed for 104 yards and two scores. Tiendena caught 10 passes for 142 yards and a touchdown, and Kuswell had 10 receptions for 111 yards and a score. Joostson led all players with 14 tackles, and Gavin Lailmore added a sack and a forced fumble.
Matt Hund, a New York defensive tackle, suffered a fractured leg and was placed on injured reserve with 14 weeks out.
Miami improves to 7-1, while New York falls to 6-2. The Misfits committed no turnovers, and the Legion committed three.
